The tone of this book is matter-of-fact and bleak, and the writing sets the stage for the overall mood of the main character very effectively. Despite what seemed like an odd writing style at times, I was drawn in by the detail and the glimpse into high-level corporate and nation-level PR. This book was much deeper than I expected at first and I found myself deeply curious about the circumstances and relationships that had led to this detached and worn personality.

This is an interesting story, it's like you can get inside the mind of the main character since it is a very detailed account of his days. However, I guess I liked more the idea of the book than the actual book itself. It felt like it was dragging at times.

In this novel about a grieving widower fighting to keep himself and his son from emotional and familial implosion, Bovim captures the essences of San Francisco and Barcelona beautifully. He shares what feels like a very intimate knowledge of both cities. He also captures the intimacy of grief and the trauma of loss with rare clarity.
I found it challenging to engage with the book until Part II, at the 43% mark. I felt bogged in corporate speak and that there was too much real estate devoted to details that did not ultimately support the scaffolding of the novel. After the 43% mark, I was captivated with Bovim's writing. I especially loved ::chef's finger kiss:: the author's references to Barcelona's Cristobal Colon statue, "pointing to the New World in the wrong direction."

The premise of Eric Michael Bovim’s debut novel “Around the Sun” is intriguing: narrator Mark White, a wildly successful PR executive who has recently lost his wife Monica, melts down amid the pressures of running a company and being a single parent to his troubled 8-year-old son Colin. And there’s a lot to like about the book, including some great armchair travel sections set in Copenhagen, San Francisco, Barbados and Barcelona—perfect for today’s homebound readers. But I never felt emotionally connected with the characters until very late in the book, partly because Bovim starts the novel several years after Monica’s death, and slowly back fills the details of Mark and Monica’s relationship as the novel progresses, and partly because Mark’s actions seemed hard to believe at times—would such a talented PR executive really make so many major gaffes in a row, even under the influence of antidepressants and alcohol? I definitely liked this book more and more as it progressed; I just wish it had been structured a little differently so that it, and the characters, would have drawn me in more from the start.

Thanks to NetGalley and Epigraph Books for providing me with an ARC of this title in return for my honest review.

Around the Sun is beautifully written and engaging. It is the story of a man whose life is collapsing around him and he doesn't accept it until it all unravels. During this time of crisis, he realizes what's important and what's not and that life is simply too short to not enjoy the things that matter to us.
I look forward to reading other books form this author.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC

Mark White, a 40 something recent widower, owns a successful PR business in Washington DC. He is really struggling after the sudden death of his wife and is trying to develop a better relationship with his 8 year old son Colin.

When he takes on a new startup up company in the midst of a PR scandal, things go wrong and soon Mark is re-evaluating everything in his life.

This is a great story, however, the writing is very lengthy and wordy, and I had a hard time following along at some points.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and advance copy of this book.

#Ericbovim #NetGalley

The book is sloooowwwwwww to start! Even after the first 500 pages, nothing substantial happens. The book has a lot of details about the business and how he messes it up. It was frustrating to watch Mark mess up more and more.... but that's what makes this book good!

Hold on world 'cause you don't know what's coming
Hold on world 'cause I'm not jumping off
Hold onto this boy a little longer
Take another trip around the sun
Around the Sun by R.E.M. 2004
The first-person narrator of Around the Sun is a successful executive who built his Washington, DC Public Relations firm on talent and meritocracy, not the “good-old boy consulting” that prevailed in that town. While Mark White is jetting around the world solving his elite clients’ problems, he is slowly losing hold of his own issues. Mark has not reconciled the sudden death of his wife; the solution for he and his 8-year old son is psychiatrists and pills. While Mark’s life revolves around first-class flights, swank hotels and all their trappings, fine dining and drinking, Colin’s already begun a slow downward spiraling. But the pills and the booze are not kind to Mark.
This debut novel by Eric Bovim is a name-brand dropping, high-flying whirlwind until Mark also starts his downward spiral. What starts out as a novel about corporate life in the fast lane slowly evolves into a devastating treatise on grief. Bovim has tackled a difficult subject with sensitivity and hope.
Thanks to NetGalley and Epigraph for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I tried so hard, but I could not get into this book. There was just too much focus on the business aspect for me. There were too many characters for me to keep track of, I just was not able to keep my interest in this book and was not able to finish it. I received an advanced copy of this novel from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

The story is about a man named Mark White, who has each and every luxury of life that he wants but just one thing is missing from his life. Few years ago, his wife met a hit-and-run accident and she died. Now our protagonist struggles to keep himself together so he keeps himself engage in his business thus the reader will find several details regarding his business transactions and all. Again, our protagonist has a role to play, the only parent to his child.
This is a man's struggle to lead a life after losing his wife. His emotions flowing through out the plot.

I struggled with this book, from the very beginning to the middle when I finally just abandoned it. I rarely do that, but just could not get into it.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I had a great deal of difficulty getting into this book. The author did a good job with character development. I liked Mark as a character and his growth from being a husband and father to being widowed with a young son to care for. Through his grieving process he learned to put his son ahead of his business goals. The million dollar company was too far fetched for me to believe as realistic.But I admit I don’t know enough about technology companies to render a more knowledgeable review of why it was so unbelievable.

This book was too quiet for me. It was written for someone that enjoys details. The main character was too blaise for me but did like the son whom he talked about lovingly.
Will try another of the author's books.

I received a copy from NetGalley.

I did not like this book for most of the book. It jumps around and unless your are carefully reading it, you aren't sure where Mark is or if it's present day. There is not a lot of segue into flash backs. As I got closer to the end, I started getting into it and started to enjoy it.

This is not a book you can speed read through. You will be confused and give up. Take your time and you will enjoy it

I enjoyed the writing in this shorter (288 page) but well written read. The human-ness of the characters really drew me in. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to have an early read on this.

Eric Michael Bovim's Around the Sun is to prose what T.S. Eliot' s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is to poetry. I found myself immediately immersed in the richly developed protagonist. Some describe this story as a journey of grief for the widower, single parent character. While this is evident, I found the novel more reflective of the imposing estrangements of the individual in modern society. This is truly a relevant, engaging, and satisfying read. It is an amazing first novel.

Despite being a debut novel, this is an old fashioned style examination of a man who doesn't realize he's in crisis. Mark White seems to have it all, and to all intents and purposes, he does. Materially at least. His lifestyle is lavish, his tastes, high end. I actually had fun with his product namedropping, his extravagant lifestyle as he jets first class, and an appreciation for his penchant for fine dining with the proper wines. The plot itself appeared intermittently, and his grief for his beloved wife and love for his amazingly prescient 8-year-old son seem to drive his motivations. There is some lovely writing ("We decline in the wrong climate, improve in others.") Hope Bovim has more in him than this one novel.

I wish I could have gotten into this book more. The writing itself is well done so I could see this book appealing to others but it just felt like it was missing something. Colin was adorable and realistic and Mark's struggles were well depicted. The character development was well done in slow layers but felt too slow at times.

Around The Sun is a debut novel by Eric Michael Bovim. The main character lives larger than life, jetting off to expensive locations, making deals and enjoying luxury all while grieving the loss of his wife who has passed away. His son, Colin is having a hard time with just seeing his dad two days a week. Interwoven within the lives of Michael and his son are the complex business dealings that drag him deeper and deeper into a web.

The writing is detailed and descriptive, which is very enjoyable. Around the Sun is divided into three sections and the story gets more intense as the sections develop. Mark goes off the deep end, but it is not really until reading the second section that I was able to really put together part of the reasons why. The third section is more coming of age- in terms of his grief, and priorities...as well as his business choices..

Well written, often deep Around the Sun stays with you for its lasting impact with regards to the power of our choices in everyday living.

Thank you to NetGalley, Author Eric Michael Bovim, and Epigraph publishing for this temporary advance review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my opinions are my own.

It was a struggle to really become invested in the story at first. The first part is 42% of the entire three part story and mostly involves describing the main character, Mark's, career. As someone unfamiliar with the business sector outside of basic concepts, I found it hard to keep up and want to keep reading. There were so much business jargon and many side characters/clients that it was difficult to remember them when they were mentioned again. It was also hard to determine if these were characters I should remember that would play a larger role in the story later or just one-time occurrences.

I am glad that I chose to the continue to read on. The other two parts of the story were beautifully written and captured my attention. Bovim explores the relationship with Mark and his son in such a realistic and relatable manner. There are strong messages Bovin conveys through Mark and his son as they navigate the death of their wife/mother, including the need to prioritize family and relationships. While I have never been to Barcelona/Spain, the vivid details Bovim provides in the last part makes you able to picture it as if you were there. It does not surprise me that Bovim had lived there for a period of time in his own life.

Overall, an enjoyable read. I do wish the first part of this novel was structured/focused the same way the other parts were.